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Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

A group of dedicated volunteers comes together to discuss renovating a derelict building into safe and affordable housing for low income renters. Before their project is committed to paper, however, several strata councils organize in opposition and prepare to present their arguments to city council. It’s an all-too-familiar scenario for those seeking solutions to homelessness as every community in the Lower Mainland has faced the now-inevitable obstacle of local residents’ objections.

In an effort to get past the divisiveness and dissension, the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH) set out to discover exactly what measures residents in the Lower Mainland believe can address the vexing problem of homelessness.

To do this, the RSCH commissioned a survey by Angus Reid from Sept. 10 to 12, involving over 1,000 randomly selected adults in the Lower Mainland.

Out of a laundry list of urban woes, homelessness ranked among the major concerns in the Lower Mainland (53 per cent), along with affordable housing (77 per cent).

It turns out homelessness is personal for many. Nearly one in four is acquainted with someone who is homeless or has been homeless in the last five years.

When asked about the leading causes of homelessness in the Lower Mainland, two-thirds thought drug and alcohol addictions are the leading cause, followed by mental illness and disabilities (51 per cent). Interestingly though, the lack of affordable housing (37 per cent) is regarded as more of a problem than the lack of economic opportunities (24 per cent) or government assistance (14 per cent).

When asked what can be done about homelessness, many said the two main solutions are to provide more affordable housing with support services (58 per cent) and more support services alone (37 per cent).

There is almost universal agreement that homeless people should have access to services and information that they need, and that homeless people should be treated with dignity and respect (nine out of 10).

Despite our optimism, we are not happy with the work that has been done to address homelessness in our region. Fifty-five per cent are dissatisfied while only 33 per cent are satisfied.

The next responses reveal more about the all-too-predictable battle that ensues when real affordable and supportive housing projects are proposed. A majority (seven out of 10) agrees that it is possible to have a community in which there will be a home for everyone, but 54 per cent attached the qualifier that housing in their community should be there for the people who can afford it.

Herein lies the contradiction; if we are not willing to share our neighbourhoods with people who cannot afford market rents, we will not make meaningful headway on this issue as the cost of housing increases. So here is your challenge during Homelessness Action Week (Oct. 7 – 13): find out more about solutions to reduce homelessness, get involved, and talk to your neighbours about our collective responsibilities and building an inclusive society for everyone.

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